Microplastics pollution: scientists recommend prevention and monitoring

IGB gives feedback on the EU Call for Evidence

In their feedback to the EU, the IGB scientists underline the high relevance of freshwater ecosystems for nature and society alike. However, inland waters are among the most threatened ecosystems in Europe and worldwide. In this context, microplastics (MPs) and sub-micron-plastics (SMPs) pollution is an emerging and consistently increasing environmental stressor of high concern. From a research-based perspective, the IGB scientists underline that improved EU policies to efficiently prevent and mitigate MPs and SMPs emissions into the environment are urgently needed. A harmonised EU-wide monitoring would foster the production of crucial knowledge on the topic, and would directly support sustainable policymaking.

The picture shows nanoplastics in simulated natural surface water that are covered by natural organic matters. I Photo: Fazel Abdolahpur Monikh

Once released into the ecosystems, a retrieval of MPs and SMPs is basically impossible. Prevention directly at the source should be given priority, not costly end-of-pipe solutions. Given the high ecological and health risk of long-term MPs and SMPs emissions, current practices should be improved, and clear and consistent EU policy should be made, especially with perspective to the own environmental goals of the EU. Considerable attention must be paid to the indirect adverse effects of plastics, such as facilitating the development and spreading of antibiotic resistance genes, which might harm human and environmental health alike.

The full IGB feedback can be downloaded directly on the EU website.

Contact person